Can we fight the energy price rises?

Ofgem suggests infrastructure problems will hit energy prices, but you could
still save.

10:17AM GMT 26 Feb 2013

Much of the country will be reeling from the recent energy supplier price rises. With all major suppliers implementing increases of up to 11pc, we will all be feeling the effects from increasing utility costs.This combined with the doublewhammy of the recent cold weather snaps will have put many households in a bitter position of wondering how much money they will be wasting.

Further bad news for consumers comes from energy regulator Ofgem, who has reported that energy bills will continue to rise due to aging power plants being taken offline without any immediate replacement. This means we will need to source more of our energy from abroad. Ofgem chief executive Andrew Buchanan has stated, "We're going to have to go shopping in world markets at a time when they will be very tight (on supplies) themselves." The shortfall is expected to last a few years as new power stations have yet to be given the go-ahead by the government.

Beat the price rises by comparing suppliers and switching

All is not lost. The most effective way to beat future price rises and start cutting down your bills is by comparing and switching suppliers using a price comparison service, such as the Telegraph Energy Switching Service provided by Energyhelpline. Comparing all of the suppliers and tariffs available is the clearest way to tell which one is the best option for your future energy needs. With prices fluctuating across the country, region by region, it is the most effective way to guarantee you can get a clear picture of what is the cheapest selection of offers for your area.

Worried about switching energy suppliers?

Many consumers may be concerned about switching a vital utility supplier when they are relying on them, such as switching your gas and electricity supplier during the winter when you are depending on them to provide energy to heat your home. However, there is no danger that your supply will be interrupted during the switching process. There is no change to your meters, wires or pipes when transferring to a new supplier, so you can rest assured that you won’t find yourself cut off at the coldest time of the year.

The process is remarkably simple and hassle-free, but can be quite daunting for the first-time switcher. With estimates suggesting that as many as 45pc of consumers across the country have never switched, that is a large population of the UK. All you need to organise your switch are a few basic details: your postcode, name of your current supplier, and ideally some information about how much energy you currently use a month. Most of this information can be obtained from a recent bill, however, if you can’t find it our advisors have a special estimator that can estimate the usage for you based on the size of your home.

With this information in hand we can search all of the tariffs in the UK to provide you with the results of the best deals available in your area. Important information such as cancellation fees, and end dates of fixed term deals are also made clear so that you can make the most informed choice about your future supplier. Being a completely free and impartial service, we want to make sure our readers save the most on their gas and electricity.

What the experts say

Mark Todd, Director of Energyhelpline said, “"With even Ofgem saying today that energy bills will continue to climb and climb, the only power consumers can wield in this situation is to regularly switch suppliers and make the energy companies work harder for their business. As the major players continue to announce huge profits, households need to strive to achieve good value and not become one of the loyal customers who help fund these massive profit margins."

Don’t hesitate, switch now

Why wait to be severely impacted by the energy price rises? Act now and take control of your finances for the year ahead.

The Telegraph Energy comparison tool provided by Energy Helpline takes into account your region, usage and payment method to find you the most accurate quotes. To get the best energy deal call us on 0800 542 7156 or switch online below.